Chicago Concert Company: Frank Bennett, director

              KATHLEEN RYAN, Contralto


MARIE SWEET, Soprano

Chicago Concert Company
FRANK BENNETT
Director
Season 1927 – 1928

FRANK BENNETT, Baritone



MARJORIE CULVER, Pianist



PAUL MALLORY.  Tenor




IN ANNOUNCING HIS SEASON FOR 1927–8 Mr. Bennett is especially fortunate in the fact that he has been able to gather together a supporting company of artists of such unusual ability, both in art and personnel. To their interesting ensemble work, apart from individual merit, may be attributed the splendid success of the Chicago Concert Company.

Entertainment Committees will make no mistake in engaging the services of this talented company, which includes four gifted singers and a pianist whose contribution to an evening's entertainment lends pleasing variety.

The repertoire of the company is wide and comprehends various programs from grave to gay.  They include costumed operatic singing, folk songs and many numbers of popular appeal—solos, duos, trios, quartettes.

By means of an unusual variety of talent this well-equipped company is able to furnish a well-rounded program for almost any occasion where refined entertainment is called for.



PRESS COMMENTS

One of the best local quartettes this reviewer has ever heard.—
Herman DeVries, Chicago Evening American.


Their numbers are of the highest calibre and done with the style and finish that can only be imitated by artists of the first rank.—
South Bend (Ind.) News-Times.


This quartette is much better than the average quartette of its kind.—
Edward Moore, Chicago Tribune.


Their Playhouse Recital attracted a large audience.  They gave a varied program of quartettes, duets, and solos.  They have learned to work together.  An exceptional ensemble.—
Florence French, Musical Leader.


The 'Capitol,' La Porte's new four hundred thousand dollar theatre, was most fortunate in securing the services of such a high class organization as the Chicago Concert Quartette.—
Argus, La Porte, Ind.


The following article recently appeared in The Chicago Rotary Gyrator: Wholesome preference for good music was demonstrated Tuesday by the resounding applause of the Rotarians and guests after each of the three songs presented by Frank Bennett's Chicago Concert Company.  The applause was not for the personnel of the company, though they were good to see, but for the happy, artistic rendering of the song stories.  We hope more meetings will be spiced up with such excellent music.
They all have good voices and have gained excellent balance.  Gounod's 'By Babylon's Wave' they sang with good tone, technical accuracy and finish.  Elgar's 'As Torrents in Summer' was excellently sung.  The tone was pleasing and there was appreciation for the spirit of the music.  The quartette made a favorable impression and have made a place for themselves in Chicago.—

Karlton Hackett, Chicago Evening Post.


A very fine piece of vocal music, 'By Babylon's Wave,' composed by Gounod, and 'As Torrents in Summer,' by Elgar, provided the Chicago Concert Quartette with excellent material for the display of their art in quartette singing.  They showed that their musical intentions are unanimous, in that the voices blend well, that they sing with precision, with nicely adjusted phrase, with good accent, and with clear enunciation.  They were heard at the Playhouse and their program contained besides the above selections, others for solo voices: for duets and for the quartette in ensemble.  Marjorie Culver proved herself to be a skillful accompanist.—
Maurice Rosenfeld, Chicago Daily News.





Figure

PERSONNEL
Marie Sweet,Soprano

Kathleen Ryan, Contralto

Paul Mallory, Tenor

Frank Bennett, Baritone

Marjorie Culver, Pianist



PROGRAM


Come All Ye Lads and Lassies (from Flora's Holiday)

Wilson


Moonbeams (from The Red Mill)

Victor Herbert



CHICAGO CONCERT COMPANY



Neapolitan Love Song

Victor Herbert


A Brown Bird Singing

Wood



PAUL MALLORY



Deep River

Burleigh


Heav'n, Heav'n

Burleigh



CHICAGO CONCERT COMPANY



Spring Song of the Robin Woman (Shanewis)

Cadman



KATHLEEN RYAN



The Moon Drops Low

Cadman



CHICAGO CONCERT COMPANY



Caro Nome (from Rigoletto)

Verdi


Sleep Little Tired Eyes

Spear



MARIE SWEET



Hear Me Ye Winds and Waves

Handel



FRANK BENNETT



The Singing Lesson

Squire



MISS RYAN AND MR. BENNETT



Come Fill the Cup (from The Persian Garden)

Lehmann



CHICAGO CONCERT COMPANY






PART TWO


Second Act of Martha (in costume)
Flotow


Lady Harriet
Marie Sweet


Nancy
Kathleen Ryan


Lionel
Paul Mallory


Plunkett
Frank Bennett





STORY
Lady Harriet, a lady of rank of the court of Queen Anne of England, tired of the amusements which the court life affords, forms a plan to visit the Servants' Fair at Richmond in the disguise of a servant girl in search of employment.  She is accompanied by Nancy, her maid.

Two young farmers, Lionel and Plunkett, also come to the Fair with the purpose of engaging help for their farm.  Here they are struck with the personal appearance of Lady Harriet and Nancy, and offer to engage them.  Lady Harriet and Nancy, who relish the joke exceedingly, accept the offer.  Arrived at the farm, the fosterbrothers soon find out that their new servants know absolutely nothing of their duties, but as Lionel is quite smitten with Lady Harriet and Plunkett with Nancy, their domestic incapacity is excused.  Lionel, left alone with his new servant (who has adopted the name of Martha), makes advances.  They are interrupted by Plunkett and Nancy, the latter just caught breaking dishes in the kitchen.

The clock strikes midnight, and this act closes finding the gentlemen greatly infatuated with their so-called servants.

This Company endorses the Baldwin Piano





Figure

The Artistic Supremacy
of Baldwin—
Again Recognized
In order that opera presented may reach the greatest heights of Musical Excellence—
The Baldwin Piano
has been appointed the official piano to be used by artists of the
Chicago Civic Opera Company
Baldwin Piano Company

Cincinnati, Ohio; New York City, N. Y.; St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Indianapolis, Indiana; Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, California,; Dallas, Texas.